Machine for leveling and smoothing ice



PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WHARTON, JB., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR LEVELING AND SMOOTHING ICE.

Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 47,237, dated April 1l, 1865.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WIIAR'ION, JR., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Machine for Leveling and Smoothing Ice; and I do hereby declare the i'ollowin g to be a full, clear, and exact descrip- .tion of the same, reference being had to the .f ccompanying dra-win gs, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in a machine constructed substantially as described hereinafter, whereby an irregular or roughened surface of a body of ice may be quickly leveled.

In order to enable others to make and use invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanyingr drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is aI sectional elevation of my improved machine for leveling and smoothing the surface of ice; Fig. 2, a plan view, and Fig. 3 a detached view.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

A is a frame, to which are secured the guidebar B and the draft-pole G, the latter being inclined, as shown in the drawings, for a purpose described hereinafter. To the front edge of the frame is secured, in any suitable Inanner, a nu tal blade or plate, a, the lower edge of which is somewhat below the frame A.

D is a support, attached tothe guide-bar B in such a manner that the whole weight of the machine is borne by the metal blade a and the support D.

H is a wide plank, protected on its lower edge by a metallic plate, and it may be attached to the front part of the machine by pins or other suitable means in the position in dicated by the dotted lines m m. rlhe bladea is so attached to the frame A that it shall be perpendicular, or nearly so, to the surface of ice to be smoothed, and at right angles, or nearly so, with the line ot' motion', so that when the machineis dra-wn forward,by horsepower or otherwise, in the direction indicated by the a1 row, a scraping and smoothing action is produced upon the ice. rIhis action is rendere d still more steady and efficient by attaching the motive power to the end of the draftpole G, which is inclined upward in such a manner th at the force of traction tends to press the blade steadily 'and firmly upon the ice. By this means a sufficient downward pressure is exerted without-the machine being so heavily constructed as to be unwieldy and awkward in use. The scraping and smoothing .fcion thus produced is one of the peculiar features of my improvement, and it (litters entirely fiom the operation of planing or cnttin g seen in other machines for leveling the surface of ice. r

The blade a' may be placed in any part of the frame A deemed most desirable, and although but one blade is shown it is evident that more may be used.

When it is desired to remove snow or other loose particles from the ice, the widepla-nk H is attached to the front of the machine by means of pins or other suitable devices, the draft-pole C projecting through the upper part of the plank by the opening r, cut through it for that purpose.

The plank H is readilyattached to the machine without detaching the blade a or in any way altering its parts, thus' forming an cicient appliance for removing snowwhen motive power is applied, as above described, in the direction of the arrow.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A machine for leveling and smoothing ice, consisting ot' a frame to which one or more blades or plates are secured, so that they may be carried across the ice perpi u licular, or nearly perpendicular, to the surface ot' the latler, substantially as described.

2. The inclined draft-pole C, combined with the fra-me A and its blade a, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. lhc frame A, its blade a., draft-pole C, and

guide-rod B with its support D, the whole bey ing constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified. Y

4. The detachable plank H, in combination -with the frame A and draft-pole C, arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

`In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. \VHARTON, J u. Witnesses: CHARLES O. FOSTER, JoIIN WHITE. 

